Punjabi artist Shubh has become the second Indian musician, after Diljit Dosanjh, to appear solo on the cover of Billboard Canada. The recognition reflects the expanding global presence of Punjabi-language music, particularly from independent voices emerging from the diaspora. The milestone coincides with the announcement of Shubh’s debut North American arena tour, set to begin on August 22 at Oakland Arena. The tour includes stops at Rogers Arena in Vancouver (August 23), Scotiabank Arena in Toronto (September 5), and wraps up at the Prudential Center in New Jersey (September 7). Opting for arena venues in his first international tour signals growing demand for his music beyond the South Asian community. Shubh’s second studio album Sicario, released earlier this year, debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart and has crossed 250 million streams across platforms. The 10-track project blends Punjabi lyricism with contemporary hip-hop production, covering a range of sonic moods from hard-hitting anthems to melodic tracks. His follow-up single Supreme debuted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and topped Apple Music charts in both India and Canada, while maintaining over one million daily Spotify streams. Operating independently without a record label or paid marketing, Shubh has built a global fanbase from the ground up. According to his management, the growth has been entirely organic, driven by consistent streaming and word-of-mouth traction. Shubh’s entry into music began as a personal exercise in songwriting during his years as a student in Canada. He continues to rely on handwritten lyrics and extensive self-editing before releasing music. His performances are fully live, featuring a complete band and no backing tracks—a rarity in the current live music circuit. His discography includes high-streaming tracks like We Rollin, Baller, and One Love, the latter crossing 400 million streams on Spotify without a music video. He is currently working on new material and has indicated future experiments with rock and other genres, while also planning larger-scale productions for future tours. With over 3 billion total streams and a global audience spanning beyond the diaspora, Shubh’s rise marks a significant chapter for independent Punjabi musicians in the international music landscape.
